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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "JOHN CASTEL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Barristerljohncastel.esq@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2016 12:25:04 +0300
Subject: Dear friend,
Dear friend,
I am making this request in good faith believing you will reciprocate my gesture. My name is JOHN CASTEL (ABOGADO), a lawyer based in Spain. I am a Personal Attorney to Late Engr. Daniel, who was a wealthy Petrol-chemical engineer before his death in 2006. I am confiding in you in an urgent matter that relates to a deposit made by this particular client of mine before he died. I am seeking for your consent to authorize his bank to remit the sum of $12.3Million deposited in a bank to you as his heir . The intended transaction will be executed under legitimate legal manner that will protect you from any breach of law. I will use my position as the clients attorney to guarantee the successful execution of this transaction. All I require is your understanding and honest cooperation to enable us achieves this enormous goal. I will give you comprehensive details of this transaction when you indicate you interest. Note that you will keep fifty per cent of the proceed for your effort. I wan
t to assure you that ther
I hope to hearing from you soonest.
Your Sincerely
JOHN CASTEL Esq .
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Anti-fraud resources:
